Gas exchange unit comprising an inlet that is acentrically slanted, and a method for producing a gas exchange unit.

Connector assemblies and methods of replacing components in an extra-corporeal circuit (ECC) system are disclosed. A connector assembly for use in an ECC system includes a tubular body having an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the tubular body with the lumen extending along a longitudinal axis, a first connection interface in fluid communication with the lumen, second connection interface in fluid communication with the lumen, and a plurality of closure mechanisms, each closure mechanism being configured to occlude the lumen.

An artificial lung is provided having a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes for gas exchange, in which the hollow fiber membranes have outer surfaces, inner surfaces forming lumens, and opening portions through which the outer surfaces communicate with the inner surfaces, any one of the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces is coated with a colloidal solution of an antithrombotic material containing a polymer as a main component, and an average particle size of the colloid is at least 1.5 times a diameter of the opening portions of the hollow fiber membranes. An artificial lung is provided that can effectively suppress leakage of blood plasma components after blood circulation (blood plasma leakage).

An artificial lung is provided that includes a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes for gas exchange comprising a hydrophobic polymer material, wherein the hollow fiber membranes have inner surfaces forming lumens and outer surfaces, and wherein at least one of the inner surfaces or the outer surfaces is coated with a polymer-containing solution that has a surface tension of 40 to 55 dyn/cm and that contains a solvent and a polymer having a structural unit represented by Formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein in Formula (I), R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.1 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

An artificial heart and lung apparatus includes a roller pump; a blood removal line; a first blood transfer line; a blood removal rate sensor; a control unit that performs the linked control of the roller pump in correspondence with a blood removal rate; and a blood transfer rate adjustment unit that instructs the roller pump to transfer a blood transfer rate. The blood transfer rate adjustment unit includes an operation amount input unit to which an operation amount from an arbitrary circumferential position can be input, and which outputs a pulse signal according to the input operation amount. A counter adds and subtracts pulse signals output from the operation amount input unit, and outputs a resultant as blood transfer rate adjustment data. The counter performs a counting operation with respect to the circumferential position of the operation amount input unit when blood transfer control transitions to the normal control.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for removing carbon dioxide from a target fluid, such as, for example, blood, to treat hypercarbic respiratory failure or another condition. A device is provided including first and second membrane components for removing dissolved gaseous carbon dioxide and bicarbonate from the fluid, which can be done simultaneously. The device can be in the form of a cartridge configured for use in a dialysis system. A method of treatment is also provided, involving drawing blood from a patient and bringing the patient's blood in contact with a first membrane component having a sweep gas passing therethrough, and a second membrane component having a dialysate passing therethrough. The dialysate's composition can be selected such that charge neutrality is maintained.

The present disclosure relates to a system for extracorporeal blood circulation, including an oxygenator which includes a heat exchanger configured for warming or cooling blood in extracorporeal blood circulation of a patient, and a heater/cooler configured for exchanging a quantity of heat with the heat exchanger, wherein the heater/cooler includes a thermoelectric heater/cooler and wherein the heater/cooler (14) is connected to the heat exchanger (11) by a thermal connecting element (15).

A system and methods of using a multi-lumen catheter and a blood pump to increase cardiac output and blood oxygenation are described. The system diverts deoxygenated blood from the right atrium to the left atrium, through the atrial septum. The catheter is adapted for simultaneously pumping blood to and from a patient's heart. A gas exchanger may be used as part of the system to remove CO.sub.2 and add o.sub.2 to the blood that is pumped via the system. Components or portions of the system may be implantable in the patient.

Described are systems and methods for monitoring administration of nitric oxide (NO) to ex vivo fluids. Examples of such fluids include blood in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits or perfusion fluids used for preserving ex vivo organs prior to transplanting in a recipient. The systems and methods described herein provide for administering nitric oxide to the fluid, monitoring nitric oxide or a nitric oxide marker in the fluid, and adjusting the nitric oxide administration.

There is described a method of use of a mass exchanger. In the method the mass exchanger comprises: a first channel for accommodating flow of a liquid to be treated; and a second channel for accommodating flow of a treatment agent, the first and second channels have a permeable membrane provided between them, so as to allow transfer of selected species between the first channel and the second channel. The steps of the mass transfer method comprise passing the liquid to be treated along the first channel and introducing a mixture of liquid and gas into the second channel to provide a two-phase treatment agent. It is desirable to provide a means of adjusting the concentration of gas species in a liquid such as blood, while simultaneously controlling the temperature of the liquid and optionally adjusting the concentration of ionic and/or dissolved species in that liquid. By this method and mass exchanger providing a two-phase treatment agent, it is possible to simultaneously deliver gaseous species (e.g. oxygen) into the treated liquid, while making use of the high heat capacity of the liquid phase of the treatment agent to transfer significant heat into or from the treated liquid.